Five Fort Bliss soldiers dealing with the physical and emotional pain of war and constant military training cleaned up at the recent Valor Games, winning 14 medals in San Antonio in late September.

But putting on a strong athletic performance was just part of the experience. The soldiers, all from the Fort Bliss Warrior Transition Battalion, said participating helped with their recovery and gives them hope for the future.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kimberley Lamberton, of Long Beach, Calif., is a former helicopter pilot who survived two helicopters colliding and crashing in Afghanistan. Everyone survived, but she has suffered from post-traumatic stress and depression since then.

REPORTER

David Burge

She won the gold medal in women's cycling at the inaugural Southwest Regional Valor Games put on by the Veterans Affairs Department and U.S. Paraylmpics on Sept. 23-25.

Lamberton was happy to claim top honors, but was more satisfied by what competing did for her spirit.

"It shows me I can do more," Lamberton said. "It may be cycling, but it translates to the rest of my life. It made me wonder if I can do this, what else can I do? It takes away barriers. The sky's the limit."

Lamberton said she was also inspired by seeing other injured or wounded service members who were competing.

"Nothing was stopping them," she said. "It was really very motivating, very inspiring."

About 125 injured, wounded or ill service members and veterans competed in the event, which is seen as a notch below the Warrior Games, which are held every spring at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado.

Marc Cattapan, military adaptive sports coordinator at Fort Bliss, said he was proud of how the athletes performed, but said the main thing is the positive, lasting benefits it will bring to these soldiers -- whether they move on to civilian life or return to active duty.

Staff Sgt. Jessica Araiza won gold in archery at the Valor Games in San Antonio. (Mark Lambie / El Paso Times)

Participating in adaptive sports allows them to speed up their recovery, set goals and discover goals they had never even thought about before, he said.

Sgt. Gary Saleh of Liberty, N.C., won three medals -- silver in 200-meter kayaking and bronze in standing and prone air rifle.

Saleh suffered a traumatic brain injury and burns during a training accident while at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. He also suffers from anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress from a tour in Iraq.

"I met a lot of people with similar injuries or who were injured more than me who competed at this event," he said. "Even though you have limitations, you don't have limitations, if that makes sense."

Staff Sgt. Jessica Araiza of Pico Rivera, Calif., has been in the Army 17 years but was diagnosed with scoliosis (curvature of the spine) about a year and a half ago. Her doctors suspect her back was weakened from the constant stress of running, marching and carrying and wearing heavy gear, she said.

She ended up winning gold in the 30-meter compound archery competition. When she first arrived at the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Bliss, she was so weak that she couldn't pull the bow back. But by competing in adaptive sports, she was able to strengthen her body and set some goals.

Like her teammates, she was inspired by seeing other service members with similar or worse injuries.

"I would have enjoyed myself even if I didn't win gold," she said.

Spc. Jorge Maldonado of Murrieta, Calif, injured his back during training for possible deployment. He stood out by winning six medals -- silver in prone air rifle, air pistol and 30-meter compound archery, and bronze in standing air rifle, 200-meter kayaking and men's cycling.

"The games showed me that every individual can succeed even with physical, mental, emotional disabilities," Maldonado said in an email. "I'm proud to have participated in such an event, and I can hold my head up high and know even with my injury I can find new challenges and activities to participate and compete in."

Spc. Isaac Brennan of Phoenix won silver in 50-meter compound archery and bronze in power lifting and air pistol.

He injured his knees, hips and shoulders during repeated training exercises while stationed in Germany. He also started to suffer from depression after being injured.

"It was an honor to compete in the Valor Games," Brennan said in an email. "Through my experience there, I was greatly impacted physically as well as emotionally."